The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Police Investigating Death of Hill City Woman Found on Cambell Street
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City Police are investigating the death of a woman who was found deceased in the 2000 block of Cambell Street. The woman, identified as 79-year-old Linda Nowell of Hill City, showed no significant injuries, although minor injuries consistent with a fall were noted. The woman was observed on surveillance video in the area on the morning of March 15th. An autopsy is being conducted.
Mayor Breaks Tie to Approve Summer Nights Alcohol License with Conditions
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun cast a tie-breaking vote on an alcohol license for the renewed Summer Nights at their meeting Monday night. Following a four-to-four tie vote from the council, Mayor Salamun broke the tie with a yes vote, adding a condition that the Summer Nights leadership team work to make accommodations for businesses nearby. The concert series was cancelled for 2025 after business owners and commuters complained about road closures during the weekly festival. This year, concerts will be moved to the Kansas City Street and Sixth Street intersection. This year’s Summer Nights concert series will begin on May 28th.
Pennington County Traffic Diversion Program Shows Strong First-Year Results
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office launched its Traffic Diversion Program in January 2025, offering eligible drivers an opportunity to resolve certain minor traffic citations outside of the traditional court process. In its first year, the program has already shown strong participation and completion rates. To date, 372 individuals, representing 76 percent of all participants, have successfully completed the program. An additional 36 participants are currently in progress, and 78 cases are pending review. The program is designed for individuals with little to no criminal history who have committed minor traffic violations, helping participants avoid a conviction and potential increases to their insurance rates.
South Dakota Joins Lawsuit Against OneMain Financial Over Alleged Deceptive Practices
RAPID CITY, S.D. — South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has joined a bipartisan group of 13 Attorneys General in suing OneMain Financial, Inc. for illegally misleading its customers and trapping tens of thousands of borrowers in expensive loans with hidden costs. Jackley says the company packs its loans with often senseless insurance policies and other add-on products forcing customers to pay for services they never agreed to and didn’t need. OneMain Financial has branches in Rapid City, Sioux Falls, and Watertown. It is not yet known how many South Dakota customers have been impacted.
Emergency Closure in Effect in Black Hills National Forest Due to Qury Fire
CUSTER, S.D. — Parts of the Black Hills National Forest are now off-limits as crews continue working on the Qury Fire southeast of Custer. Forest officials say an emergency closure is now in effect, and is expected to stay in place through April 16, unless conditions improve and the order is lifted sooner. The closure covers Forest Service land west of the junction of Highway 385 and Highway 16A, stretching to the edge of Custer State Park. It also includes land south of that same intersection down to Wind Cave National Park. Officials are limiting access to keep both the public and firefighters safe while crews deal with ongoing fire activity and hazardous conditions.
Final Defendant Sentenced to Life in Prison in 2022 Rapid City Double Homicide
PIERRE, S.D. — South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that the final defendant convicted in a 2022 double homicide in Rapid City has been sentenced to life in prison. Montell Olivera, 29 of Rapid City, received three life sentences when he was sentenced Friday in Pennington County Circuit Court. He had earlier been convicted by a Pennington County jury on two counts of First-Degree Murder and one count of Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder. Olivera, along with Dillon Wilson and Erin Provancial, were convicted by a Pennington County jury in the August 2022 shooting deaths of Joseph Standing Bear of Norris and Petan Milk of Rapid City. The two other defendants were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Hundreds of migrants are vanishing in the Mediterranean. Authorities are withholding information
ROME (AP) — The beginning of 2026 ranks as the deadliest start to any year for people trying to cross the Mediterranean. But the true count may be even higher. Human rights groups are increasingly struggling to verify tolls as Italy, Malta and Tunisia have gradually restricted information on migrant rescues and shipwrecks along the deadliest migration route in the world. The news barely makes headlines, in part because the lack of transparency prevents journalists from confirming reports. After Cyclone Harry, activists report more than 1,000 missing, but officials have not confirmed details. Migrants families have pleaded for help identifying bodies washing ashore. (Full story)
Illinois voters pick a new generation of Democrats after near-record retirements
CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois voters are deciding primaries for six open U.S. House and Senate seats that will spur a new generation of leadership in the state’s heavily Democratic congressional delegation. The retirement of Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin has triggered a competitive campaign to find a replacement. Among the candidates in Tuesday’s Democratic primary are two sitting House members and the lieutenant governor. The race is also a test of the influence of Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker. House retirements created open seats across the Chicago area. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee and PACs supporting the cryptocurrency and AI industries also have spent big on several of the contests. The stakes are high, with most primary winners in the Democratic stronghold expected to win in November. (Full story)
Len Deighton, author of bestselling spy thrillers, dead at 97
LONDON (AP) — Len Deighton, a prolific writer whose tough, stylish spy thrillers featured on bestseller lists for decades, has died. He was 97. Deighton’s literary agent, Tim Bates, said he died Sunday. No cause of death was given. London-born Deighton had huge success in 1962 with his first novel, “The IPCRESS File.” The story of a secret agent confronted with duplicity and bureaucracy from his own side while investigating a Soviet kidnap ring, it went on to sell millions of copies and was adapted into a 1965 film starring Michael Caine. His other thrillers included “Funeral in Berlin,” “Billion-Dollar Brain” and “Berlin Game.” Deighton also wrote nonfiction history books and several cookbooks that he illustrated himself. (Full story)
